Authentic Leadership Retreat Testimonial
Prior to the January True Growth™ Academy retreat, I read the book "the Power of Full Engagement" and was amazed at how some of the case studies were able to make significant changes in their lives by adopting simple, daily routines. This really had me thinking about my life and the many things I wanted to improve, but hadn’t really realized that it might be easier than I had imagined.
During the retreat, I was really moved by the presenters and developed a sense of urgency to change that I had never felt before. I had been to countless management training sessions and leadership conferences, but none of them impacted me like this session. I was totally fired up and ready to start the process of improving all areas of my life.
During my drive back to the airport on Friday, I reflected on the past several days and made a decision to embark on a journey that would lead to a "better me." I realized that going this alone was probably not sustainable and decided to put together a personal board of directors to help me design a process that would allow me to be successful in making change.
Prior to assembling my personal board, I started making daily changes to my routine that I felt would improve me in key areas of my life. I started exercising the next day and made a commitment to lose 20 pounds over the next 4 months. The catalyst for this weight loss goal was my daughter’s wedding in mid-May.
I also found another great technique in the book that seemed to help one of the case studies remain focused and fresh throughout the workday. Twice a day at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., I leave my office and climb up and down 10 flight of stairs. I then grab a 16 ounce cup of cold water and go back to work. This seems to get the blood flowing and also keeps me hydrated. It also contributed to my exercise goals and ultimately to my weight loss goals. It allowed me to clear my head and let go of some of the things that were interfering with my ability to focus on important issues.
Simply stated, this daily routine assisted me in improving three important sources of energy: physical, mental and to some extent, emotional. During one of the board of directors meetings one of my friends asked if I had begun addressing my spiritual goals, which I had not. He recommended that I begin taking some time to have daily devotionals and spend time learning more about the bible. He even provided me with a website that publishes a daily devotional and allows me to keep this routine even while traveling.
Although I still have many plans to develop for other goals, I feel very good about the progress I have made and attribute my success to my personal board of directors. Without their help and the accountability that goes with the process, I don’t think I would have been able to stick with my plans. I would strongly recommend that anyone looking to make significant change enlist the help of others. It might a single mentor or a group of personal advisors, but we all perform much better when others are expecting us to shown up and "punch in."
The sad part is that I didn’t realize earlier in my life how easy it is to change. The simple acts or routines that you incorporate into your daily life can make a huge difference; you just have to take it one day at a time and create an environment where you have others supporting you and helping you achieve your goals. And don’t be discouraged if some of your plans don’t result in the changes you had hoped for. Life is like a marathon and each leg of the journey will present obstacles and challenges. You must start each day and each leg of the race with the hopes for a bright outcome and not let the "hairball of life" get in the way of becoming the person that you want to become.